Piano damper-action



(No Model.)

J. P. RICHARDSON & G. P. DYER.

PIANO DAMPER ACTION.

No. 427,525. Patented May 6, 1890. K

Frgz L Z 222? W Z Q yMwwd UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN P. RICHARDSON AND GEORGE F. DYER, OF CAMBRIDGE, ASSIGNORS TO THE MASON & HAMLIN ORGAN AND PIANO COMPANY, OF BOSTON,

MASSACHUSETTS.

PIANO DAM PER-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,525, dated May 6, 1890.

Application filed September 25, 1888. Serial No. 286,341. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN P. RICHARDSON and GEORGE F. DYER, of Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano-Forte Dam per-Ac tions, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.'

This invention relates to improvements in IQ damper-actions for piano-fortes, by which one or more of the strings of the piano-forte can at will be left free to vibrate after the key has been released by the player, and thus its tone prolonged or continued as desired; and

I 5 the invention consists, in a piano-forte, of a damper-lever having secured thereto a spring hook or catch constructed and arranged substantially as described, in combination with means constructed and arranged to move into position for the hook or catch to engage therewith when in its raised position by the playing of the key or otherwise, and hold by such engagement the damper-lever in such raised position, and thus its damper above and free of the string, so that then, if the key is released by the player, the string will continue I to vibrate and sound, allsubstantiallyas hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying plate of drawings is illustrated the present invention, the views representing the damper-action in connection with the rear ends of the piano-forte keys.

Figures 1 and 2 represent the damper-action in side elevation with some of the parts 5 in different positions, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3 3, Fig. 1, the parts below such line being in plan view.

In the drawings, A represents the rear ends of keys of a piano-forte; B, the dampers; C, 0 the wire or string, and D the damper-levers,

each damper being connected to its damperlever by an upright'rod orwire E, passing through a guiding-socket a in the plate F, the damper-lever pivoted by one end to a flange G, secured to the rail H, and resting by its other end on the piano-key, all substantially as usual in piano-forte damper-actions and needing no more particular description herein.

On the upper side of each damper-lever is secured by screws Z) a flat strip J, of any suitable spring metal, and extending forward therefrom, then upward, its upper end being bent over and downward in the form of ahook or catch K, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

L is a cross rail or bar pivoted at each-end at d above the damper-levers, and arranged to swing upward on its pivot, and limited in its upward movement by a block or stop M, (see Fig. 2,) secured in proper position therefor, and in its normal position (shown in Fig. 1) it rests upon a block or stop N, secured in proper position, as shown in Fig. 1.

P is a flat spring secured by one end to block Q, and bearing by its free end on the upper side of the rail L to hold it down in its normal position and to return it thereto when raised or otherwise acted upon.

R is an upright bar or red arranged to slide up and down in suitable guideways, its upper end bearing against the under side of the rail L, and arranged to be connected to and operated by a properly-arranged pedal of the piano-forte in the usual manner of piano-forte pedals, so that pressing down the pedal it will through the rod R raise the rail L or swing it on its pivot up into the position shown in Fig. 2, and when the pedal is allowed to Fall the spring P will return the rail to its normal position. (Shown in Fig. 1.)

Playing a key of the piano-forte raises the damper-lever and the damper, its hook or catch as it moves upward also working back a little to and within the line of movement or pathway of the front side or edgefoi' the rail L when swung up 011 its pivots, and if desirous of prolonging or continuing the tone produced by the playing of the key while such key is held down, cause the rail L to be moved upward by operating its pedal, and just before the last part of its upward movement, or before it comes to rest against the stop or block M, its front side or edge f strikes or abuts against or engages with the hook or catch K of the damper so raised, and by such engagement holds the damper-lever and damper up, as shown in Fig. 2, so that then, the player releasing the key, the string of the so raised and held damper will continue to sound until either its vibrations cease of themselves or the rail is allowed to fall, which frees itself of the hook or catch of the damper-lever, allowing the damper-lever and damper to fall into their normal positions, which damps and stops the vibrations of the string. The damperlever is prevented from further upward movement than what the key communicates to it when played by its abutment against the under side of the check-rail S, and the portion 9 of the hook K is constructed and arranged so that it will yield or spring, so that after the rail has made its engagement with the hook the hook will be raised somewhat, its yielding or springy nature, as described, allowing such movement, which not only tends to hold the hook more firmly to its engagement with the rail, but also prevents injury to the parts, and also allows the rail to be swung up higher than it otherwise would, for it, when raised as described, is out of the way and tree and clear of the hooks or catches of the other dampers, provided their respective keys are then played, leaving such dampers to be free and have movements independent of the rail. The rail being allowed to fall, the damper-lever and damper also fall to their normal positions, respectively, on the key and string.

By this invention a piano-forte player, it desirous of having a tone prolonged or continued after he has released the key, has simply to raise the rail L by its pedal before he releases the key, which engages the hook or catch of the damper-lever and holds the damper above and off the string, as described, allowing the string to vibrate as long as it will, or until the rail is allowed to fall, the player then being free to play upon other keys as desired. The hooks can be made in any suitable manner and secured to the damper-lever as desired.

The front or edge f of the rail is covered with a soft materialsuch as leather or felt or any suitable material to prevent noise of the partsand the rail can be connected to the pedal in any suit ble manner, such pedal being independent of the usual loud and soft pedals of the instrument; also, the rail L can extend over as many of the damperlevers as it is desired to have their respective strings affected by this invention. The rail can be arranged to be connected to the rod in any suitable manner to return it to its normal position, dispensing with the spring P; but as shown is preferable.

The variousstops and rails, &c., are secured in place in any of the usual ways of making and arranging piano-actions.

The spring J is arranged so that its elastieity or spring operates in a vertical direction.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- 1. In a piano-forte, a damper-lever provided with a spring secured thereto in any suitable manner and extending forward and then upward, and having its end bent over into a hook or catch form, for the purpose specified.

2. In a piano-forte, a damper-lever provided with a spring secured thereto in any suitable manner and extending forward and then upward,and having its end bent over to form a hook or catch, in combination with means for engaging with said hook or catch when said damper-lever is raised, for the purpose specified.

3. In a piano-forte, a damper-lever provided with a spring secured thereto in any suitable manner and extending forward and then upward, and having its end bent over to form a hook or catch, in combination with a rail or bar arranged to move or swing into position to engage with said hook or catch when said damper-lever is raised,'for the purpose specified.

4. In a piano-forte, a damper-lever provided with a spring secured thereto in any suitable manner and extending forward and then upward, and having its end bent over to form a hook or catch, in combination with a rail or bar having a spring and arranged to move or swing into position to engage with said hook or catch when said damper-lever is raised, for the purpose specified.

5. In a piano-forte, a damper-lever provided with a spring secured thereto in any suitable manner and extending forward and then upward,and having its end bent over to form a hook or catch, in combination with a rail or bar having a spring and stops M N, and arranged to move or swing into position to engage with said hook or catch when said damper-lever is raised, for the purpose specified.

6. In a piano-forte, a damper-lever provided with a spring secured thereto in any suitable manner and extending forward and hen upward, and having its end bent over to form a hook or catch, in combination with a check-rail or stop S, and means for engaging with said hook or catch when said damperlever is raised, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN P. RICHARDSON. GEO. F. DYER. Witnesses:

EDWIN IV. BROWN, F. 1-3. WENrwoR'rH.

IIO 

